Jamie Redknapp points out key stats about Slaven Bilic, urges him to start two West Ham players

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West Ham United beat Swansea City 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that he thinks West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic should hand starts to Arthur Masuaku and Diafra Sakho after the international break.

The Hammers needed a result when they took on Swansea City on Saturday afternoon, having lost 3-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur – and it proved to be a stressful game for everybody associated with West Ham.

Whilst Bilic’s men were in the ascendancy for much of the game, but couldn’t find the crucial goal as Andy Carroll hit the crossbar, leaving fans to believe that a 0-0 draw was on the cards.

However, Arthur Masuaku picked out Diafra Sakho in injury, and the Senegalese forward snatched the winning goal to give West Ham a last-gasp 1-0 victory in dramatic circumstances.

Masuaku and Sakho combining for the goal was somewhat ironic, given that their introductions onto the pitch as substitutes were met with boos from disgruntled West Ham fans, with the goal vindicating Slaven Bilic’s decision.

The result eases the pressure on Bilic, who has overseen four defeats in the first seven games of the new Premier League season, leading to speculation about his future at the London Stadium.

Now, pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that the pressure on Bilic is baffling, as he has the best points-per-game ratio of any West Ham boss, even better than Alan Curbishley and Harry Redknapp.

After suggesting that West Ham should stick with Bilic, he urged the Hammers boss to start Masuaku and Sakho against Burnley after the international break, praising both players for their impact against Swansea.

“You wouldn’t know it from the pressure he has been under but Slaven Bilic has the best points-per-game ratio of any West Ham manager in the Premier League,” said Redknapp. “His 1.37 points per game puts him ahead of Alan Curbishley on 1.32 and my dad on 1.31. Despite a poor performance against Swansea, Bilic deserves credit for changing the game by sending on super subs Diafra Sakho and Arthur Masuaku.”

“They gave West Ham much more energy and purpose in the final third and both should start at Burnley in the club’s first game after the international break,” he added.